Why do we have to eat insects?

Why do we have to eat insects?

We see you here making a face, and yet eating insects may well become trendy. It even bears a name already! This is entomophagy. While this may seem strange, even disgusting for most of us, it is a common food habit in many countries. Discover the good reasons to get started today!

Eating insects was already something common in ancient Greece. Our ancestors had the habit of nibbling locusts and cicadas. In Rome, it was even a luxury reserved for the most fortunate and the days of festivities. It also seems that some Westerners loved it in the 19th and 20th century! The question is not why eat insects, but why go again! By discovering all that it has of benefit, you will quickly succumb. Today, Asian countries are the biggest consumers of insects. At home, the tradition continues. There are around 2.5 billion entomophagi worldwide! If insects are tasted whole and crispy, it is now possible to find them as by-products: flour, cakes, and even chocolate bars!

Good for the planet

You have to know that the production of insects is much less harmful for the environment than the production of meat. To get a better idea, the production of one kilo of meat releases about 28 grams of CO2, against 0.09 grams per 1 kilo of crickets. The recycling of organic matter makes it possible to limit pollution, but also to feed insects. The difference is therefore more than remarkable! This difference is all the greater as intensive meat farming causes carbon emissions, methane and nitrous oxide. With the increase of the population, these polluting emissions could become more problematic than they already are. Added to this is the use of antibiotics to cure sick animals, because of their poor breeding conditions. These antibiotics remain in the food we eat and are responsible for antibiotic resistance in humans.

Good for health

As you already know, proteins are essential to our health. If it is found in large quantities in meat and fish, it is not the only source of protein. Insects are indeed very rich in protein! Some vegetarians have also used to consume them to fill their gaps. Insects also contain Lysine, an amino acid that is rarely found in other foods. Meat is also responsible for some health problems like certain cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. When it is poorly preserved, it can also transmit dangerous bacteria. You now know what you have to do!